Errors on credit reports are more common than many consumers realize. When companies like Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion report inaccurate information — or fail to properly investigate a dispute — those actions may violate federal consumer reporting law.
For more than 28 years, Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C. has represented consumers nationwide harmed by inaccurate credit reporting and other consumer reporting violations.
If incorrect information on your credit report has affected your finances, housing, employment, or other opportunities, you may be entitled to compensation.
Fill out the free case review form on this page or call 1-877-735-8600 to speak with an experienced attorney.
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Quick Answers About Credit Report Errors
Problems with credit reports can do real damage. Inaccurate information may affect your ability to obtain credit, secure housing, qualify for employment, or move forward with important financial decisions.
Can I sue a credit bureau for incorrect information?
Yes. If you dispute inaccurate information and the credit bureau fails to conduct a proper investigation or correct the problem, you may have the right to file a lawsuit.
Do I need to dispute the error before filing a lawsuit?
In many cases, yes. Consumers often need to give the credit bureau an opportunity to investigate and correct the issue first. If the problem remains after the dispute process, legal action may be possible.
What compensation may be available?
Depending on the circumstances, consumers may be able to recover compensation for financial losses, emotional distress, damage to reputation, and attorney’s fees and court costs.
How long do credit bureaus have to investigate?
Credit reporting agencies typically have 30 days to investigate a dispute and respond. If they fail to conduct a reasonable investigation, that may give rise to a legal claim.
Credit reporting errors can cause serious problems when they affect important decisions like loan approvals, housing applications, or employment opportunities.
An attorney may be able to help when a credit bureau or company reporting information fails to correct inaccurate data or follow federal consumer reporting law.
You may want to speak with a credit report attorney if:
- you disputed inaccurate information and it still appears on your credit report
- the credit bureau claimed the item was verified even though it is clearly incorrect
- someone else’s accounts or records appear in your credit file (mixed file)
- you were denied credit, housing, or employment because of incorrect reporting
- a creditor continues reporting inaccurate information after you provided documentation
- a company accessed your credit report without a valid reason
These situations may indicate that the credit reporting agency or company providing the information failed to follow federal consumer reporting law.
An attorney can review your credit report, evaluate the dispute history, and determine whether you may have a legal claim.
How Federal Law Protects Consumers
Federal law provides important protections for consumers dealing with inaccurate reporting.
- The Right to Dispute Errors – You may dispute incomplete or inaccurate information appearing on your credit report.
- The Right to a Reasonable Investigation – Credit reporting agencies must investigate disputes and respond within the required time frame.
- The Right to Removal of Unverified Information – If disputed information cannot be verified, it must be removed from the report.
- Limits on Negative Reporting – Most negative information can remain on a credit report for only a limited number of years. Bankruptcy is one exception and may remain longer.
- The Right to Seek Damages – When consumers are harmed by reporting violations, they may have the right to recover compensation.
For more information, review the Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Disputing Credit Report Errors
If you discover incorrect information on your credit report, the first step is usually to submit a dispute with the credit reporting agency.
Many consumers begin by:
- Reviewing their credit reports from the major credit bureaus at annualcreditreport.com.
- Identifying inaccurate information, such as accounts that do not belong to them, incorrect balances, or misreported payment history.
- Gathering documentation that shows the information is wrong.
- Submitting a dispute with the credit reporting agency so the information can be investigated.
If the inaccurate information remains on your report after the dispute process, it may be time to speak with an attorney about your options.
Fill out the free case review form on this page or call 1-877-735-8600 to speak with an experienced attorney.
What Happens If a Credit Bureau Ignores Your Dispute?
After receiving a dispute, the credit bureau generally forwards it to the company that supplied the information and must complete its investigation within 30 days.
Unfortunately, many consumers find that the process does not work the way it should. A dispute may be brushed aside, reviewed too superficially, or closed without correcting the inaccurate information.
When that happens, legal action may be necessary to hold the reporting company accountable and seek damages for the harm caused.
Some errors are corrected during the dispute process. Others are not.
When a reporting company fails to properly investigate or correct inaccurate information, resolving the issue may take longer and may require legal action.
In this video, partner John Soumilas explains how long it can take to fix credit report errors and what may happen when a lawsuit becomes necessary.
What Happens When We Handle a Case
When our firm handles a credit reporting matter, we work to:
- review the inaccurate reporting and dispute history
- identify possible violations of consumer reporting law
- pursue correction or removal of inaccurate information
- hold reporting agencies and data furnishers accountable
- seek compensation for the harm caused
Depending on the facts, a case may result in correction of the report, financial compensation, and recovery of attorney’s fees and costs.
Consumer Reporting Agencies Our Attorneys Have Handled Cases Involving
Credit report problems are not limited to the three major credit bureaus. Many different consumer reporting agencies collect and sell information that affects lending, housing, employment, and other decisions.
Over the years, our attorneys have handled matters involving a wide range of consumer reporting companies and data furnishers.
These include businesses involved in:
- credit reporting
- background checks
- tenant screening reports
- identity verification and risk scoring
- specialty consumer reports
Examples include:
View a complete list of consumer reporting agencies
If inaccurate reporting from any consumer reporting agency caused you harm, our attorneys may be able to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a credit bureau for incorrect information on my credit report?
Yes. If you disputed inaccurate information and the bureau failed to properly investigate or correct it, you may have a legal claim.
Do I need to dispute a credit report error before contacting a lawyer?
In many cases, consumers first dispute the error so the credit bureau has an opportunity to investigate. If the problem remains, it may be time to speak with an attorney.
What compensation may be available in a credit reporting lawsuit?
Depending on the facts, compensation may include financial losses, emotional distress, reputational harm, and attorney’s fees and costs.
How long do credit bureaus have to investigate a dispute?
They typically have 30 days to investigate and provide the results.
What should I do if my dispute was ignored?
If the inaccurate information remains after you disputed it, you may want to have an attorney review the matter and determine whether your rights were violated.
Talk to an Experienced Credit Report Lawyer
If you disputed inaccurate information and it was not corrected, you may have a legal claim.
The attorneys at Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C. represent consumers harmed by inaccurate reporting and other consumer reporting violations.
Fill out the case review form on this page or call 1-877-735-8600 to discuss your situation.
